Chrysanthemum plant named &#39;dlfdgrn5&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFDGRN5’, characterized by its upright plant habit; uniform growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; strong upright flowering stems; pompon-type inflorescences with bright green-colored ray florets; resistance to Fusarium; and good postproduction longevity.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Varieties of Chrysanthemum Plants

Inventor/Applicant: Arie Gerard Post

Filed: Feb. 12, 2020

Ser. No. 62/995,750

Inventor/Applicant hereby claims the benefit of this provisional U.S. Patent Application.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum X morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DLFDGRN5’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT & ASSIGNEE

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Assignee, Deliflor Royalties B.V. of Maasdijk, The Netherlands on Mar. 19, 2020, application number 2020/0774.

A Japanese Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Assignee, Deliflor Royalties B.V. of Maasdijk, The Netherlands on Apr. 17, 2020, application number 34656.

A Malaysian Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Assignee, Deliflor Royalties B.V. of Maasdijk, The Netherlands on Jun. 26, 2020, application number PVBT 025/20.

A South African Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Assignee, Deliflor Royalties B.V. of Maasdijk, The Netherlands on Sep. 3, 2020, application number PT 9273.

A Brazilian Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Assignee, Deliflor Royalties B.V. of Maasdijk, The Netherlands on Nov. 23, 2020, application number 21806.000305/2020.

Foreign priority is not claimed to any of these applications.

The Inventor/Applicant and Assignee assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor/Applicant and/or the Assignee. Inventor/Applicant and Assignee claim a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum x morifolium, typically grown as a cut flower Chrysanthemum and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘DLFDGRN5’.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new cut flower Chrysanthemum plants with numerous attractive inflorescences.

The new Chrysanthemum plant originated from a cross-pollination in March, 2017 of a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number db 10327, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number db 48402, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Chrysanthemum plant was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in April, 2018.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum plant by vegetative terminal cuttings since April, 2018 has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DLFDGRN5’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DLFDGRN5’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit; uniform growth habit.     -   2. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   3. Uniform and freely flowering habit.     -   4. Strong upright flowering stems.     -   5. Pompon-type inflorescences with bright green-colored ray         florets.     -   6. Resistant to Fusarium.     -   7. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in ray floret shape and orientation as plants of the new Chrysanthemum have ray florets with fringed apices and are strongly concave in cross-section whereas plants of the female parent selection have ray florets with mammillate apices and are moderately concave in cross-section.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in ray floret shape as plants of the new Chrysanthemum have incurved ray florets whereas plants of the male parent selection have ligulate ray florets. In addition, ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are darker green in color than ray florets of plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘Celtic’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of ‘Celtic’ in ray floret shape as plants of the new Chrysanthemum have incurved ray florets with fringed apices whereas plants of ‘Celtic’ have ligulate ray florets with dentate apices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Chrysanthemum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘DLFDGRN5’ grown as a spray-type cut flower.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of upper (top of the photographic sheet) and lower (bottom of the photographic sheet) surfaces of typical leaves (left) and inflorescences (right).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the late spring in ground beds in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial cut Chrysanthemum production. Plants were initially given long day/short night treatments followed by short day/long night treatments to induce flower initiation and development. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 22° C. and light levels averaged 8 klux. Plants were grown as single-stem spray-type plants and were eleven weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘DLFDGRN5’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number db             10327, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number db             48402, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About four days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About six days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 13 days             at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 15 days             at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically creamy white in             color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous decorative-type cut             flower that is typically grown as a single stem spray-type;             upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth             rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 74.4             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of inflorescence             plane.—About 80.3 cm.         -   Plant (spray) diameter.—About 20.1 cm.         -   Flowering stem length.—About 70.8 cm.         -   Flowering stem diameter.—About 7 mm.         -   Flowering stem internode length.—About 2.8 cm.         -   Flowering stem strength.—Strong.         -   Flowering stem aspect.—Erect.         -   Flowering stem texture and luster.—Densely pubescent;             slightly glossy.         -   Flowering stem color, developing.—Close to 144A.         -   Flowering stem color, developed.—Close to 144A and 146D.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:             About 10.9 cm. Width: About 7.5 cm. Shape, in outline:             Ovate. Apex: Abruptly acute, minute. Base: Attenuate.             Margin: Palmately lobed, coarsely crenate to dentate;             sinuses parallel to convergent and medium in depth. Texture             and luster, upper surface: Densely pubescent, not rugose;             moderately velvety; very slightly glossy. Texture and             luster, lower surface: Densely pubescent, prominent             venation; slightly velvety; very slightly glossy. Venation             pattern: Pinnate, reticulate. Color: Developing leaves,             upper surface: Close to NN137A to NN137B. Developing leaves,             lower surface: Close to between 138A and 147B. Fully             developed leaves, upper surface: Close to NN137A to NN137B;             venation, close to 147B. Fully developed leaves, lower             surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 146C. Petioles:             Length: About 3.7 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm by 4 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Densely pubescent; moderately glossy. Color,             upper surface: Close to 148B; edges, close to NN137B. Color,             lower surface: Close to 148B; edges, close to 147B.             Stipules: Quantity and appearance: Two leafy stipules,             opposite, at the petiole attachment to the stem. Length:             About 9.5 mm. Width: About 1.4 mm. Shape, in outline:             Reniform; occasionally with two or three shallow incisions             distally. Texture and luster, upper surface: Densely             pubescent; very slightly glossy. Texture and luster, lower             surface: Densely pubescent; very slightly glossy. Color:             Upper surface: Close to NN137A to NN137B; venation, close to             147B. Lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 146C. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Decorative-type inflorescence form with incurved             narrowly oblong to narrowly oblanceolate-shaped ray florets             and tubular disc florets; inflorescences borne perpendicular             to peduncles and face upright; ray and disc florets develop             acropetally on a capitulum.         -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant; typical of Chrysanthemums.         -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower             in the autumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere; at other             times of the year, inflorescence initiation and development             can be induced under short day/long night conditions (at             least 13.5 hours of darkness); uniform flowering habit and             short response time, plants exposed to two weeks of long             day/short night conditions after planting followed by             photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower about             59 days later when grown as a spray-type.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Good postproduction longevity;             after a seven-day storage period, cut flowers will maintain             good color and substance for about two to three weeks in an             interior environment; inflorescences persistent.         -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Typically grown as a spray-type,             about 18 inflorescences develop per flowering stem.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter, grown as a spray-type: About             3.7 cm. Depth (height), grown as a spray-type: About 1.9 cm.             Disc diameter: About 1.2 cm.         -   Receptacles.—Height: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 1.2 cm.             Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Close to 145C.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1 cm. Diameter: About             1.6 cm. Shape: Flattened globular. Texture and luster:             Distally, smooth and glabrous; proximally, moderately to             densely pubescent; moderately glossy. Color: Close to 137A,             NN137A and 138A to 138D; immature ray florets, close to             144A.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 260 arranged in             about six whorls. Length: About 1.4 cm, varying between 1.1             cm and 1.6 cm. Width: About 2 mm, varying between 1 mm and             3 mm. Shape: Narrowly oblong to narrowly oblanceolate;             strongly involute and moderately carinate. Apex: Fringed,             emarginate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; not undulate.             Aspect: About 30° to 80° from vertical. Texture and luster,             upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety; matte.             Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous;             slightly velvety; slightly glossy. Color: When opening,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145B; towards the apex,             close to 145A. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 144B;             towards the base, close to 145A to 145B; venation, similar             to lamina colors; color does not change with development.             Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 144A; towards the             base, close to N144D; venation, similar to lamina colors;             color does not change with development.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 60 at the             center of the receptacle. Length: About 6 mm. Diameter:             About 1 mm. Shape: Lower 85% fused into a tube; upper 15%             free. Apex: Narrowly acute. Margin, free-part: Entire.             Texture and luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; glossy. Color, when opening, inner and outer             surfaces: Close to 145D; towards the apex, close to N144A.             Color, fully opened, inner and outer surfaces: Close to             145D; towards the apex, close to N144B.         -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: About 26             arranged in about two whorls. Length: About 1.1 cm. Width:             About 5 mm. Shape: Ovate to narrowly ovate. Apex: Obtuse.             Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper             surface: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Texture and luster, lower             surface: Moderately to densely pubescent; matte. Color,             upper surface: Close to 143A; lateral margins, translucent             and close to 157D and apical margins tinged with close to             N199A. Color, lower surface: Close to 137A and NN137B;             lateral margins, translucent and close to 157D and apical             margins tinged with close to N199A.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 7.4 cm.             Diameter, terminal peduncle: About 4 mm. Length, third             peduncle: About 8.3 cm. Diameter, third peduncle: About             3 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect, terminal peduncle: Upright.             Aspect, third peduncle: About 40° from the flowering stem             axis. Texture and luster: Densely pubescent; moderately             glossy. Color: Close to 138A and 138B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Quantity: About five per floret. Filament length:             About 2 mm. Filament color: Close to 145D. Anther size:             About 0.5 mm by 2 mm. Anther shape: Narrowly oblong. Anther             color: Close to 154D. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color:             Close to 13B. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc             florets. Quantity: One per floret. Pistil length: About             6.5 mm. Style length: About 6 mm. Style color: Close to             145C. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft to             three-parted, decurrent. Stigma color: Close to 153D. Ovary             color: Close to 157A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production have             not been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have     been observed to be resistant to Fusarium Wilt (Fusarium oxysporum     spp. chrysanthemi (strain FoNL1)). To date, plants of the new     Chrysanthemum have not been observed to be resistant to pests and     other pathogens common to Chrysanthemum plants grown under     commercial conditions. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about −12° C. to     35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 10. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFDGRN5’ as illustrated and described. 